Apparatus for the handling of tobacco leaves



Feb. 26, 1963 A. J. CONNOLL 3,079,013

APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF TOBACCO LEAVES Filed Aug. '17, 1959 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. ALA/v JOHNSTONE CONNOLL B yrw w ATTORNEY 3,079,013 APPARATUS FOR Tim HANDLHQG GE TUBACCG LEAVES Alan Johnstone Council, Rusape, Southern Rhodesia, as-

signor to Tobacco Reapers (Pvt) Ltd, Rusape, Southern Rhodesia Filed Aug. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 834,318 {Zlaims priority, application Rhodesia July 15, 1959 2 Ciaims. (til. 214-5.5)

This invention relates to tobacco harvesters and more particularly relates to portable harvesters for securing tobacco leaves to a tobacco-holding stick.

The object of the invention is a new apparatus for the handling, i.e. reaping, tying and carrying, of tobacco eaves.

Another object of this invention is a tobacco harvester entirely supported by the body of the operator without the use of wheels, skids or the like.

The invention particularly relates to tobacco handling apparatus of such type in which the weight of the same is partly supported by the shoulder of the operator. It is understood that if by eliminating the usual supporting wheel, skids, etc. resting on the ground, the whole weight would have to be supported by the shoulder of the operator, the apparatus would be too heavy to carry and not practical in use. Therefore, according to the invention, meansare provided to distribute the weight of the apparatus on the body of the worker, in order to enable him to carry the apparatus without effort and at the same time allowing him free movement in any direction. Such means consist of one, two, or more arms, the one end or ends of which are fixed to the apparatus while their other ends are connected to a belt-like part to be worn around the waist of the operator. A further feature of the invention is that the position of said arms in relation to the body of the worker can be adjusted according to requirements. It has been found that by this arrangement the center of gravity of the weight of the apparatus is efficiently distributed to the shoulders and to the front Waist of the worker so that the apparatus can be carried without discomfort. The said arms are preferably connected to a bent solid part covered with rubber or other soft material for the further comfort of the worker.

An example of the apparatus according to the invention is shown diagrammatically in the drawing, in which FIG. 1 shows the apparatus in side elevation; and

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus.

As shown in the drawing, the apparatus consists essentially of a bar 1, or other frame, the upper end 2 of which is so formed that it can be placed over the shoulder of the worker, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2. To part 2 is welded a bent part 3 of essentially inverted U-form for holding string bobbins 4 and 5. For this purpose, two bolts or the like 6, 7 are secured to part 3, and the bobbins are held in position by means of nuts, washers or the like 8. Furthermore, metal strips 9, '10 are welded to the part 3 and are provided with guiding eyelets for the strings.

Along the lower part of bar 1, a sleeve 11 can be shifted and fixed in the required position by means of adjustment screws 12. To sleeve 11 are welded arms 13 for holding a cup 14. As shown in the drawing, the tobacco stick 15 is supported by cup 14 while its upper end is held between metal strips 9, it

In the drawing, 21 and 22 indicate the strings coming from bobbins 4 and S, the lower ends of the strings being tied in known manner at 23 to the stick 15.

According to the invention, a further sleeve 15 is provided on bar 1. This sleeve can be adjustable and its position can be fixed by screw 17. To sleeve 16 are fixed one, two, or more arms 18, the other ends of which are fixed to a solid or flexible bent part 19. Part 19 fits around the front waist of the worker, and it can be fixed around his body by means of belts 20.

It is understood that after part 2 has been placed over the shoulder of the worker and belts 20 have been connected around his waist, the pressure by the weight of the apparatus will be distributed to the shoulders and to the front waist. Part 19 consists preferably of solid material covered with a rubber hose or the like.

The main advantages of the above-described apparatus are as follows: the worker carrying the apparatus can freely move in any direction and over any type of ground. As the apparatus is attached to his body at two points, the tobacco stick is prevented from swaying. The apparatus being of simple construction and not being provided with wheels or skids, as in known devices, is inexpensive. The belts can be fixed around or over or under the waist of the worker and in that position in which the apparatus is best balanced.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. Portable apparatus for handling tobacco leaves comprising an elongated frame, forked shoulder-engaging hooks secured to one end of the frame and bent transversely to the axis of the frame, a substantially U-sha-ped' bracket connecting the hooks and extending from the hooks in a direction opposite to that of the frame, bobbin support means mounted on the U-shaped bracket for a pair of bobbins, thread guides on the U-shaped bracket, a further bracket disposed at the other end of the frame and adjustable therealong extending transversely to the frame in a direction opposite to the shoulder-engaging hooks, means disposed on said first and second brackets for receiving a leaf supporting member therebetween, an adjustable sleeve member disposed on said frame intermediate said first and second brackets, at least one arm member having one end connected to said adjustable sleeve member and projecting from said frame in the same general direction as said hooks, and a waist abutting member having waist engaging means connected to the other end of said arm member.

2. Portable apparatus according to claim 1 in which said waist abutting member has padding thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 909,217 Presba Jan. 12, 1909 1,719,695 Ferguson July 2, 1929 2,499,117 Smith Feb. 28, 1950 2,685,757 Mirigian Aug. 10, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,333 Great Britain July 15, 1915 

1. PORTABLE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING TOBACCO LEAVES COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FRAME, FORKED SHOULDER-ENGAGING HOOKS SECURED TO ONE END OF THE FRAME AND BENT TRANSVERSELY TO THE AXIS OF THE FRAME, A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED BRACKET CONNECTING THE HOOKS AND EXTENDING FROM THE HOOKS IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THAT OF THE FRAME, BOBBIN SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON THE U-SHAPED BRACKET FOR A PAIR OF BOBBINS, THREAD GUIDES ON THE U-SHAPED BRACKET, A FURTHER BRACKET DISPOSED AT THE OTHER END OF THE FRAME AND ADJUSTABLE THEREALONG EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY TO THE FRAME IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE SHOULDER-ENGAGING HOOKS, MEANS DISPOSED ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND BRACKETS FOR RECEIVING A LEAF SUPPORTING MEMBER THEREBETWEEN, AN ADJUSTABLE SLEEVE MEMBER DISPOSED ON SAID FRAME INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND BRACKETS, AT LEAST ONE ARM MEMBER HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID ADJUSTABLE SLEEVE MEMBER AND PROJECTING FROM SAID FRAME IN THE SAME GENERAL DIRECTION AS SAID HOOKS, AND A WAIST ABUTTING MEMBER HAVING WAIST ENGAGING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID ARM MEMBER. 